Outlet-box.



J. C. BOYTON & 0. H. NICKERSON.

OUTLET BOX.

APPLICATION FILED lAN.25| I913- PatentedJune 12 2 SHEETS-SHEET I- z/Z/izzzes s 5.- 4 447%.

J. C. BOYTON & 0. H. NICKERSON.

OUTLET BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.25, 19.13.

1 ,229,576. I Patented June 12, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

.7 .jjgd. M5555: J22 92222715. M 4 E Md M OFFICE.

JOHN G. BOYTON AND onis ir iticxnnson, or cLEvnLANnoHIo.

corner-Box.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 12, 191'?.,

Application filed January 25, 1913.- Serial No. 744,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN G. BoY'roN and Onis H. NIoKERsoN, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga' and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Tmprovement in Outlet-Boxes, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to what are known as junction or outlet boxes, such as are used between the ends of conduit sections through which wires pass, in interior electric light wiring, for permitting access to the wiring at various points for the purpose of making connections or the introduction of lights in the circuit and the application of electric light fixtures therefor. The objects of the invention are to provide a box of this character which is simple and substantial in construction; which may be enlarged to greater capacity in a cheap and efficient manner and requiring no special tools for the purpose; and which is especially adapted for use in buildings of cement or concrete construction, there being means provided for holdmg the box securely in place during the pouring of the cement or concrete without danger of displacing or tilting of the box.

The foregoing and further objects, which will appear hereinafter in the specification and claims, are attained by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein Figure 1 represents a central vertical sectional view through a junction or outlet box constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the body of the box shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a similar view of the cap or cover of said box; Fig. a perspective view of a section which may be aplied to the casing shown in Figs. and 2 or the purpose of increasing the capacity of the box; Fig.5 a bottom perspective View of a bushing which may be applied to the lower end of the box shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 6 a view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a box comprising the section shown in Figs. 1 and 4:; Fig. 7 a bottom perspective view of a junction or outlet box similar to that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 8 a bottom perspective view of the cover for such box; and 9 shows a method of joining the ends of a strip or band of metal from which the casing of the box may be made.

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated in the drawings, the body of the box shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive comprises generally a cylindrical side wall 1 having therein a plurality of openings 2 through which the ends of thelengths of conduit carrying the conductors may be inserted, (the conduit shown in the drawings consisting of sections of pipe 3), the ends of the pipes being threaded into internally threaded bushings 41: forming extensions of the holes 2 and each provided with an inwardly directed flange 5 against which the end of a pipe 3 may abut, the inner surface of the flange 5 forming a continuation of the inner surface of the pipe. The pipes are clamped in place by means of the bushings on the inside of the casing 1 and the nuts (5 on the outside of said casing. Each casing wall is provided with knock-out plugs 7 of any standard character, the removal of these plugs providing the openings 2 referred to hereinbefore.

Near its upper end, the casing wall 1 is provided with a suitable number of apertures 8', two such. apertures being shown and being preferably unthreaded. In the bottom of the wall 1, there areprovided a suitable number (two or more) of inwardly projecting lugs or cars 9, which may be conveniently formed by slotting the metal and bending inwardly the intermediate portion between the slots, whereby each lug or ear will be spaced from the bottom edge of the casing 1. Each one of these lugs or ears is provided with a threaded aperture 10. The two cars or lugs are shown as located diametrically opposite each other. In additionv to these lugs, a pair of inwardly projecting lugs or ears 11 are provided, being shown as located diametrically opposite each other and between -the lugs 9. The lugs 11 project directly from the bottom end of the casing 11, and each is provided with an aperture 12. While two lugs 9 and two lugs 11 areillustrated, it will be evident that this number may be increased should occasion require. The purpose of .the lugs or cars 9 and 11 will be explained hereinafter.

Cooperating with the upper end of the box (that is to say, the end which is embedded the farthestin the wall) is a cover 13. This cover is provided with a suitable number of knock-outs 14 therein for 0011-. duit connections and with a cylindrical flange or skirt 15 which is adapted to receive therewithin the upper end of the casing 1. This flange is shown as provided with segmental recesses 16 for the accommodation of the lock nuts 6; also with threaded apertures 17 for the reception of screws 18, said screws being adapted to project through the plain or unthreaded apertures 8 in the upper portion of the casing 1.

WVithin the cover there is shown a hollow fixture stud 19 of ordinary construction, said stud being secured to the cover, as by means of bolts 20. This stud is provided with an external thread on which there is mounted the fixture tube 21, said fixture tube being shown as projecting through a canopy 22, the enlarged end of which abuts against the plastering 23.

As previously mentioned, the junction or outlet box shown herein is particularly well adapted for use in buildings of concrete or cement construction. In forming, for instance, the ceiling, mold boards are employed as a support for the concrete or cement 24 until the latter is set. The casing 1 can be conveniently applied to the mold boards by driving nails or tacks through the apertures 12 of the lugs 11, the cover being applied thereafter, with the screws mounted in the threaded apertures 17. The screws may then be set up, whereby they will project through the threaded apertures 8 of the casing 1 to secure the cover in place. In the event that plastering 23 is applied to the concrete or cement 24, a bushing will be secured to the front end of the box to provide a suitable opening from the box through the plastering. This bushing is shown in Figs.

1 and 5 and comprises a collar 25 and a flange 26 projecting at right angles from said collar, the flange being circular and of substantially the same diameter as the casing 1 whereby its peripheral edge will be flush with the side wall of said casing. Where the concrete or cement wall or ceiling is plastered, the bushing will be applied to the open or front-end of the box after the mold boards have been taken down and before the plastering is applied. For this purpose, the heads of the screws 27, which are threaded into the apertures in the lugs 9, are inserted through the keyhole slots 28 in the flange 26 and may be set up by means of a screw driver. When the bushing is in place, the plastering may be applied in the usual manner, and a smooth opening will be provided through the plastering which the enlarged end of the canopy 22 may inclose.

From the construction thus far disclosed, it will be apparent that I have produced a self-contained box which may be very conveniently installed. The lugs afford an extremely convenient means for securing the box in place during the pouring of the concrete or cement. When the mold boards are removed, they will simply be withdrawn from the nails or tacks projecting outwardly or downwardly from the lugs 11, and the nails or tacks may then be easily removed. IVith the same self-contained object in view, the screws 27 may be mounted in their lugs 9 and the heads inserted through the keyhole slots 28 when desirable or necessary to gpply the bushing to the lower end of the It will be remembered that the lugs 9 are inset from the plane of the lower edge of the box a sufficient distance to accommodate the heads of the screws 27 within said plane and prevent the heads of the screws from interfering with the level standing or supporting of the box upon the mold boards.

In Fig. 4 we have shown an extension section or sleeve whereby our box may be converted into a box of increased capacity, and in Fig. 6 we have shown a box as built up from the sections or parts shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the view in Fig. 6 being taken at an angle of about 15 with respect to that in Fig. 1. The top section consists generally of a cylindrical sleeve 29 having a cylindrical skirt 15 depending therefrom which is identical with the skirt 15 of the cover 13, the skirt 15 being shown as provided with apertures 17 and segmental recesses 16 substantially identical with the similarly designated parts of the cover. At its upper end, the sleeve or section 29 is provided with apertures 8 identical with the apertures 8 in the casing section 1. The manner of assembling the parts will be clear from an inspection of Fig. 6, wherein the casing 1 is shown as provided with the same parts as set forth in the preceding figures. The cylindrical skirt 15 of the section 29 is shown as fitted over the top of the casing 1 and secured thereto by means of the screws 18 which are carried by the threaded apertures at the lower end of said sleeve and project through the openings 8 at the top of the casing section 1. The cover 13 in this case is applied to the top of the extension section 29 in identically thev same manner as to the upper end of the casing section 1 and carries the screws 18 by which it is secured to the top of the section 29; also the hollow fixture stud 19.

Where the wall is unplastered, the enlarged end of the canopy will abut against the concrete or cement 2i and the plastering 23 will be omitted; also the bushing 25-26, since its use will be unnecessary. In such a case, the screws 27 may be removed or may remain in the lugs 9. i

In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a further modification of our invention, wherein the casing is polygonal in section instead of being circular in section. In these views, 30 denotes one of the side walls of a. casing of this character, the casing being shown 'as substantially s uare in section. The side walls are provlded with the knock-out plugs 31, and one pair of the opposed walls 30 is provided with. inwardly projecting lugs 32 constructed and located in the same manner as the lugs 9 and having threaded and have their front or bottom faces flush with the front or bottom of the casing and are provided with theapertures 35, the lugs 3a being identical in construction and location with the lugs 11in the preceding modification. The cover86 of the last-described casing is substantially identical with the .cover 13 except that is of a shape to cooperate with the casing with which it is associated. The cover here shown is square in outline and is providedwith a skirt 37 similar to the skirt 15. The skirt 37 is provided with opposed openings 38, which are substantially identical with the openings 17, and with segmental recesses 39, for the same purpose as the recesses-l6; also with knockout plugs 40. It will be understood that V a sleeve or extension may be provided for' the form of casing shown in Fig. 7, which sleeve or extension will be substantially identical with the extension shown in Figs. 4L and 6 except that it will be of a shape to cooperate with the casing 30.

In Fig. 9 we have shown a method ofjoining together the ends of a strip or band of metal for producing. the casin 7 v of our junction or outlet box. In such gure, 1

.representsthe strip or band of metal the ends of which are provided with alternate dovetailed notches and projections l and 1 which are brought together, when the band of metal is bent to form the casing of the box, and interlocked. Pressure is then applied on theflat sides of the band in that region occupied by the joint, and in this manner the projections are broadened out and a bushing havin and securely pressed and wedged within the notches effecting a very efficient joining of the ends of the metal strip or band 1.

While we have referred toour junction or outlet box, throughout the foregoing description, as being applied to the ceiling, we wish it to be understood that the box is equally well adapted for use in vertical walls or floors of buildings, and we desire to make it clear that, although we have stated that our box isiespecially 'well adapted for use in concrete buildings, it may be used in all places where boxes of this class have been em loyed heretofore.

aving thus described our iiivention, what i mentioned end of said casing and having threaded apertures arranged to aline with the aforesaid openings, and screws threaded through said aperture and adapted to project freely into the openings in said casing. I

2. A box of the character specified comprising a casing having inwardly projecting lugs adjacent to and spaced from one end thereof, screws threaded into said lugs, a flange adaptedto abut against said casing end and provided within said flange with key-hole slots for thereception of the heads of said screws.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto aflix our signatures in the presence of 'two witnesses.

JOHN C. BOYTON. v OBIS H. NICKERSON.

Witnesses: I

BRENNAN B. Wnsr, HAROLD E. SMI H. 

